Advice
“How Do You Pronounce Your Name?” and Other Important Questions
When you meet someone with a name you can’t pronounce
My name is Itxayana. I’m Mexican-American, and the name has Mayan roots. People always find that latter fact interesting, but it becomes less cool when I tell them that my parents heard it in a Mexican telenovela and decided they liked it for a girl. (Hello, from said girl.)
I’ve never introduced myself to someone using my full name. In my head, it’s restricted to only a handful of people (my mom, grandparents, and a couple of friends who prefer to use it). Instead, I tell people my name is “Itxy.” It’s shorter and easier to pronounce, plus I’m accustomed to the nickname.
I follow the introduction with the same comment each time so that it helps people understand or remember my name. “It’s like the Itsy bit in the Itsy Bitsy Spider song.”
I’ve seen all types of reactions to my name. Those with unique or foreign names might understand. You say your name, and instantly you feel a bit of a panic or fear from the other person. Like, “Oh no, I didn’t get what she said. Now what?” The intention behind the fear is thought, I believe — we all understand the value and power behind a name. The last we want to do is get it wrong.